Actress and humorist Annabelle Gurwitchis author of the upcoming I See You Made an Effort, a collection of hilarious wickedly funny essays about the hazards of turning 50, surviving menopause, and falling in lust at the Genius bar -- the ultimate coming-of middle-age story and and sure to be a fun evening at Live Talks Los Angeles.

Is 50 the new 40 or is 50 still 50? The panic began to set in when Annabelle Gurwitch turned 49. Suddenly, new and pernicious health problems began to plague her, solicitations from the AARP began flooding her mailbox, and a marriage proposal on Twitter was abruptly rescinded when the tweeter caught a glimpse of Gurwitch’s age (“You’re older than my mother, eeeeww, gross, I need to shower now”). The nicest thing her hairdresser said to her recently was, “I see you made an effort.” A visit to her gynecologist ended not with one of his usual benign send-offs—stay healthy, stay happy, stay hydrated—but instead with the slightly ominous: “Stay…funny.”

Gurwitch bravely turns an unflinching eye towards the myriad issues women can expect to encounter in their later years. From navigating the extensive—and expensive—anti-aging offerings in at a department store beauty counter, to the assisted suicide of her best friend, and the financial reality of the “never-tirement” generation that leads her to petty theft, Gurwitch proves a wickedly funny writer in her prime (in so many ways).

Gurwitch is author of You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up, a self-hurt marital memoir co-written with her husband, Jeff Kahn, now a theatrical play in its third national tour; and Fired! Tales of the Caned, Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. Her Fired! documentary premiered as a Showtime Comedy Special and played film festivals around the world. Gurwitch gained a loyal comedic following during her numerous years co-hosting the cult favorite, Dinner & a Movie; her acting credits include Dexter, Boston Legal, Seinfeld, Melvin Goes to Dinner, The Shaggy Dog and Not Necessarily The News on HBO. Most recently, she starred in the adaptation of Grace Paley’s A Coney Island Christmas by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies at The Geffen Playhouse. Live appearances include New York Comedy Festival, 92nd St Y, Upright Citizens Brigade and story salons in both New York and Los Angeles. She has served as a regular commentator on NPR and a humorist for TheNation. Her writing has appeared in More, Marie Claire, Men's Health, Los Angeles Times and elsewhere. Gurwitch is a passionate environmentalist, a reluctant atheist, and lives with her husband and son in Los Angeles.

Jane Kaczmarek starred for 7 years on the hit television show MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE for which she received EMMY, GOLDEN GLOBE and S.A.G. Award nominations. Her 30 year career on television spans from THE PAPER CHASE and HILL STREET BLUES to LAW AND ORDER S.V.U.

On stage, Jane has performed in both comedy and and drama, including LOST IN YONKERS on Broadway ,THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES at the Taper , RAISED IN CAPTIVITY ( LA Drama Desk Award ) and the premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS at SCR , GOOD PEOPLE at the Geffen Theatre (Ovation nomination) and KINDERTRANSPORT at the Tiffany Theatre for which she won the Ovation Award. She recently reprised her role in KINDERTRANSPORT for L.A. Theatre Works , which will be broadcast this year. She is the founder of the CLOTHES OFF OUR BACK Foundation which auctioned celebrity red carpet attire raising over 4 million dollars for children's charities. Jane is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Yale School of Drama. She lives in Pasadena with her 3 children, german shepherd Lucy and guinea pig Eduardo.

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When & Where

Moss Theatre
New Roads School
3131 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica,
90404

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 8:00 PM

Organizer

Live Talks Los Angeles

Live Talks Los Angeles is a series of on-stage conversations in various venues in the Los Angeles area featuring writers, actors, musicians, humorists, artists, chefs, scientists and thought leaders in business.